Ten short theatrical "screen ads" promoting the 1955 Chevrolet models.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Audio/Visual: Sd, C
Keywords: Automobiles: Advertising; Advertising: Screen ads

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

Individual Files

Write a review
Downloaded 81,677 times Reviews
Average Rating:

Reviewer: Confessor - - May 14, 2010
Subject: But what does it mean???
Fantastic old ads. But what the heck is (was) "four fender visibility" and "blue-flame sixes"? So full of impressive-sounding jargon, they must have sold a bizillion!

Reviewer: Classic_TV_and_Radio_Fan - - November 13, 2008
Subject: Not Bad
Drags a bit, but somehow very entertaining collection of ads. I agree with the previous person, the Grills could of been better, although to be honest I've always prefered the '57 Chevy to the '55 Chevy. Now, if only Rick could upload some '59 chevy ads, since that was a very underrated Chevy!

Reviewer: ERD. - - July 24, 2008
Subject: Effective for 1955
Very effective ads for 1955. This was a a good time for the middle class in our country. As a pre-teen, I remember not caring for the grill on these cars.

Reviewer: Robin_1990 - - February 11, 2008
Subject: Very Useful for stock footage
I once used this footage in a video I made for YouTube, and I got positive response. So thanks Rick for preserving it. BTW, These cars are quite nice, They made of guzzled gas But that was before global warming was discovered. The ads are effective and clever. The 50's had it's problems, But it's cars, music and TV simply ROCKED!

Reviewer: camaro67 - - August 4, 2007
Subject: Want to sell cars again GM - Get THESE back in PRODUCTION
sure there would have to be some mod's to deal with regulations, BUT keep the exact style no changes whatsoever and watch these SELL. Better YET - reproduce these and label them as 1955 model year cars, not 2007 and tell the feds to go *# themselves. and even better yet GET Ron Paul in and we have the liberty to buy any dang cars we please!

Reviewer: bread - - August 21, 2006
Subject: i love those cars
I simply love those cars. I wish i had a 50's Chevrolet. overall these are fun ads. They get a little repetitive, but they are still fun. well worth the download.These cars have lasted decades and will still be on the roads for years to come. Most 2000's cars are junked after a few years. I wish i had lived in the 50's, they may not have been perfect, but they where fun. i got this infomation from someone who actually lived in the decade. i recommend this film to both car fans and Ephemeral film fans. score: (sorry to copy the reviewer who was using a similar review system) 5 out of 5 "historic interest", 4 out 5 "fun facter", 5 out of 5 "i cant believe i found this", 5 out 5 for "stock footage" capabilities. thank you mr prelinger for getting this film on this website.

Reviewer: Venckman - - August 10, 2005
Subject: I want that red and white Bel Air convertible!
After watching these ads, who could possibly have resisted these gorgeous cars, with their apartment sized, seatbelt free interiors? They can even parallel park, provided they're given about 47 feet of maneuvering space! This is a wonderful clip, and it's interesting to compare them to the car ads of today. Where current ads deluge you with about 75 different shots in 30 seconds, these mostly showed the cars driving around (very slowly), and even threw in some nice scenery, so that your mind could soak up every musical syllable of narration, which is extremely content-heavy. This is great stuff.

Reviewer: Educational Archive Fan - - February 1, 2005
Subject: Jam Handy & Chevrolet--What a Combo!
After viewing these film shorts, I was impressed by the vivid color and photography used in the detail of each Chevrolet vehicle. As the producer of past Chevy "propaganda" films, Jam Handy has once again created a selling technique that captures your interest in Chevys. Advertising in the 1950's was used to explain and convey to the consumer the suggested product through technicoloresque colors and creative narrative. Afterwhich, the consumer would purchase the product, at the local market or whatever the case would be. This is why Chevy was and still is the champ in marketing, selling and consumer purchases today!

Reviewer: RickPell - - October 11, 2004
Subject: Wow! Give me more of this!
Absolutely love the crisp vintage footage. Chevy's best year yet captured on film and downloadable at that! Too bad I can only give it 5 stars.

Thanks, and keep 'em coming.

Reviewer: Electrolux - - May 10, 2004
Subject: Hats off to the announcer
He somehow kept it fresh through all of these. That ain't easy, folks.

GM spent a fortune on development of this car line, and thus spent another fortune on advertising it. Much of the technology developed for this product line was used for the next 30 years, so it had to matter and it had to pay off. I think they did a super job of it.

Reviewer: cjxn - - October 6, 2003
Subject: Motorific by Jam Handy
Putting a V-8 in a Chevy was a very big deal, and Jam Handy knew it. One of the spots ends with "More than a new car, a new concept in low-cost motoring."

Popular as the tri-year Chevys are, it's rare to see them as crisp as they appear here. Very well photographed in color, it shows the same 4-5 cars over and over. In addition to the iconic Bel-Air convertible, there are lots of shots of the more modest trim lines and 4-door models, which are today seen less often than the showier cars.

BTW, don't miss the title cards, which look much like those of theatrical short subjects.

Reviewer: finfan59 - - February 5, 2003
Subject: THE car to drive in '55!
Nice site..what can be said about the '55 Chevy, that hasn't already be said?
Considered to be one of the cleanest, most tasteful styles ever introduced by any North American auto maker, they have a "timeless look"

I enjoyed the video clip. I had a '56 Bel Air sport sedan...it was a fantastic car, but the "tri-fives" all began in '55......ahhhh

Reviewer: Rollin' Danny - - December 7, 2002
Subject: Rare and Fantastic
Hello erverybody
This is a pleasure for every fan of fifties cars.
A fine collection of advertising films about the
epoch-making 55' Chevrolet.
Enjoy this fantastic movie material ...........
50's Advertising at his best !
Rollin' Danny / germany

Reviewer: Spuzz - - December 4, 2002
Subject: New! New! New! New!
Quite colorful revue of Chevrolet cars from 1956. Although (of course) quite repetitive, one can view the fascinating advertising styles so prevelant in 1956. By the way, I think the cars are bat-ugly.